The artist contributes twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to grassroots concert halls

The artist accepting his trophy in his hometown
Sam Fender was awarded the prestigious award recently in Newcastle

The artist has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the trust for venues, which works to save the UK's grassroots music venues.

Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.

Fender has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his live tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation helped spaces that were confronting possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations received funding support in upgrading amenities and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.

"The concept that revenue from shows in large arenas backs the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.

Pulp members in concert
They are among the artists who donated their award funds to good causes

Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.

When the band received the trophy in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer announced that the band would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her prize between multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," she shared with a publication.

In recent years, the band gave their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And 1994 winners the group contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.

"The victory was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the MVT shared it had protected two local spots in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the venues.

Sabrina Jones
Sabrina Jones

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about exploring the intersection of innovation and human expression through engaging content.